Sudan’s junta leader, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has intensified his attacks on civilian political forces and former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, in what analysts see as an effort to undermine the popular revolution that toppled longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir and rejected military rule.
In a recent speech, al-Burhan lashed out at Hamdok, vowing that he would never return as Sudan’s prime minister. He accused unnamed actors of attempting to impose Hamdok’s leadership and declared that those who seek power in Sudan must first fight alongside the SAF.
Al-Burhan also criticized opposition leaders advocating for peace, calling them “agents speaking from abroad.” His remarks come amid Sudan’s ongoing war between his army (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has plunged the country into further chaos.
A Political Threat
Analysts say al-Burhan’s rhetoric reflects his fear of losing control to civilian forces.
“Al-Burhan sees the political forces as the only real threat to his rule,” political analyst Daoud Khater told Erem News. “Unlike the RSF, which he can engage in military conflict, these groups challenge his authority through political mobilization and public awareness.”
Khater noted that Hamdok, who enjoys significant domestic and international support, poses a particular threat to al-Burhan’s ambitions. “He fears Hamdok more than the RSF because Hamdok represents an alternative to military rule—one based on democratic governance,” Khater said.
The former prime minister has remained active in Sudan’s political landscape, recently attending an African Union summit in Ethiopia to discuss the crisis. Al-Burhan was notably absent due to Sudan’s suspension from the AU.
Undermining the Revolution
Another political analyst, Salah Hassan Jumaa, said al-Burhan’s repeated attacks on civilian leaders are an attempt to derail the revolution’s achievements.
“Al-Burhan knows the power of civilian movements in shaping Sudan’s political future,” Jumaa said. “After his coup against Hamdok’s government in October 2021, these forces mobilized protests that persisted until the current war erupted.”
Jumaa accused al-Burhan of breaking promises made after Bashir’s ouster and attempting to position himself as Sudan’s savior while suppressing political opposition.
“He attacks pro-democracy groups because they advocate for elections and a peaceful transfer of power, which threatens his military grip on Sudan,” he added.
Calls for Peace
Al-Burhan recently urged Khaled Omar, vice president of the Sudanese Congress Party, to take up arms and fight alongside the SAF.
Omar swiftly dismissed the call, responding on X, formerly Twitter, that he stands for peace, not war.
“We have no craft other than peace and rebuilding,” he wrote. “We reject hate speech and incitement and will remain committed to these principles until Sudan finds a way out of this dark tunnel.”
With no end in sight to Sudan’s crisis, al-Burhan’s escalating rhetoric signals deeper divisions between junta and civilian forces, raising questions about the country’s political future.
